BobH

Musings of a MSW Newbie – started July 2016
 
Apologies for the length, original bullet points ‘what I have learnt’ has turned into a 1,000 word mini missive of sorts.
 
As a Newbie to model ships - I am restoring my +/- 80 year old Granddad’s Santa Maria (the ship that is, Grandad pasted away last century) - a few thoughts on the process I went through once I had the ship in my hands.
 
‘This is a mess, how can I fix this, how can I make this or that’. Okay very different to a new ‘out of the box’ model ship experience but the sheer magnitude of the task didn’t really hit until a few weeks into the job.
 
I am of an age where I take my time so said to myself ‘two years to complete’. I started researching modelling sites settling on MSW as the ‘Premier’ site for info, knowledge, skills, attention to detail and general all round good fellows willing to share knowledge and advice.
 
More internet research into the ship, pictures, models, plans, anything I could find printing dozens of pics. Then research into where to purchase part and bits I would be unable/didn’t want to make.
 
At last I was ready to order ‘stuff’ and what a moment when it arrived, wood and tiny parts and glue – I was ready to go for it. I had already spent hours cleaning the ship of accumulated dirt and grime, removed all the rigging and masts and other bits falling apart and was now set for restoration.
 
Three months later and new forecastle bulwarks, new cap rails, ships boat (made from a kit), barrels and buckets ready to be installed and four futtock riders made and fitted.
I try for at least an hour a night, longer over weekends if possible, progress is slow but that’s okay 21 months to go.
 
Things I have learnt on the way are:
 
1/ Super glue or CA – do not use on painted wood, use aliphatic (the first time I saw that in print I had to google it), use CA glue on painted wood and it’s brittle and will break off, a mistake I made early ‘cos CA is so quick and easy and who needs clamps anyway.
 
2/ Get some clamps, small ones for small stuff bigger ones for bigger stuff – buy a set - and leave overnight to really bond, yes be patient.
 
3/ Unless you are gifted with a workshop and all the tools be prepared to compromise on your first build. I have ‘worked around’ steam bending wood in a saucepan with wire supports; it worked, (cap rails were steam bent around medicine bottle tops and a straight drinking glass, forecastle bulwarks around a dowel mould I made). I worked around ‘clamping’ cap rails to bulwark sides using cable ties around the hull, blocks of cut and shaped wood and wedges (a knife, a file and some cable tie cut-offs) to hold the two curved and one flat section in place overnight. Build your kit up slowly as and when you need to.
 
4/ Research, research and research some more, internet, google and of course MSW. I spent hours researching how a 15th century anchor could be raised onto cap rails (designed and made a removable fish davit), and then how falconets were moved around the ship (designed and make fixed mountings set into the cap rails and fixed to the deck). Now maybe to the purest my ideas are out of kilter with the original – then again no blueprint for Santa Maria – but my ideas work nautically, and hopefully historically, they look okay and add some drama/realism to the model ‘cos after all falconets had to be stored away somewhere dry – hmm, have to make a container for them.
 
5/ Have in your mind’s eye your expectations of the finished model, what do you want out of it. Will it be a representation or true to the real one, amassed with detail or the basics. I settled on a story ‘what if’ – what if the Santa Maria was not wrecked but towed ashore repaired, refitted and repainted. I am going to write the story or a novelette for my future Grandson using crew names, nautical terminology, building methods of the 15th century and Haitian geography; sounds fantastimargorical but I like telling stories and together with a folder of research material, build log and the old replaced parts he will have a history of 15th century voyages of discovery, not saved on a USB stick or DVD but old fashioned paper.
 
6/ Painting, oh how I like painting, the finishing touch. Get the right paint for your model (see points 3/ and 4/ above). I use acrylics often watered down or colour mixed to get a shade I want – read up about colour wheels and mixing paint.
 
7/ Paint brushes, pay a little more for better quality. I have two sets a £1.99 set of 12 that I have CA’d into shapes for filler, cleaning, another finger and the like, the other a set of four Humbrol modellers brushes for less than a tenner.
 
8/ Small parts, there are lots of these but even more advice through MSW on how to hold, make, paint and tie knots in/on them. If you don’t have the tools or space (I have a dinner tray or kitchen unit to work on) don’t fret, as we say in Africa ‘make a plan’, buy the tiny parts, do look-a-like knots, it’s okay to use wood filler or not quite to scale parts.
 
9/ It’s your model, maybe your first, when it’s all done, complete and finished chances are friends and family will laud you pouring praise on your excellent modelling skills – fingers crossed.
Lastly join MSW (but you already have reading this) However it needs to be said that without the fellowship, articles, help, advice, etc., etc. available within the various forums I would have been all at sea and by the board.
 
One last point
 
10/ Have a look at ALL the forums MSW has to offer not just pertinent ones for your model as they contain a wealth of knowledge.
 
And enjoy your build

Musings of a MSW Newbie – started July 2016
 
Apologies for the length, original bullet points ‘what I have learnt’ has turned into a 1,000 word mini missive of sorts.
 
As a Newbie to model ships - I am restoring my +/- 80 year old Granddad’s Santa Maria (the ship that is, Grandad pasted away last century) - a few thoughts on the process I went through once I had the ship in my hands.
 
‘This is a mess, how can I fix this, how can I make this or that’. Okay very different to a new ‘out of the box’ model ship experience but the sheer magnitude of the task didn’t really hit until a few weeks into the job.
 
I am of an age where I take my time so said to myself ‘two years to complete’. I started researching modelling sites settling on MSW as the ‘Premier’ site for info, knowledge, skills, attention to detail and general all round good fellows willing to share knowledge and advice.
 
More internet research into the ship, pictures, models, plans, anything I could find printing dozens of pics. Then research into where to purchase part and bits I would be unable/didn’t want to make.
 
At last I was ready to order ‘stuff’ and what a moment when it arrived, wood and tiny parts and glue – I was ready to go for it. I had already spent hours cleaning the ship of accumulated dirt and grime, removed all the rigging and masts and other bits falling apart and was now set for restoration.
 
Three months later and new forecastle bulwarks, new cap rails, ships boat (made from a kit), barrels and buckets ready to be installed and four futtock riders made and fitted.
I try for at least an hour a night, longer over weekends if possible, progress is slow but that’s okay 21 months to go.
 
Things I have learnt on the way are:
 
1/ Super glue or CA – do not use on painted wood, use aliphatic (the first time I saw that in print I had to google it), use CA glue on painted wood and it’s brittle and will break off, a mistake I made early ‘cos CA is so quick and easy and who needs clamps anyway.
 
2/ Get some clamps, small ones for small stuff bigger ones for bigger stuff – buy a set - and leave overnight to really bond, yes be patient.
 
3/ Unless you are gifted with a workshop and all the tools be prepared to compromise on your first build. I have ‘worked around’ steam bending wood in a saucepan with wire supports; it worked, (cap rails were steam bent around medicine bottle tops and a straight drinking glass, forecastle bulwarks around a dowel mould I made). I worked around ‘clamping’ cap rails to bulwark sides using cable ties around the hull, blocks of cut and shaped wood and wedges (a knife, a file and some cable tie cut-offs) to hold the two curved and one flat section in place overnight. Build your kit up slowly as and when you need to.
 
4/ Research, research and research some more, internet, google and of course MSW. I spent hours researching how a 15th century anchor could be raised onto cap rails (designed and made a removable fish davit), and then how falconets were moved around the ship (designed and make fixed mountings set into the cap rails and fixed to the deck). Now maybe to the purest my ideas are out of kilter with the original – then again no blueprint for Santa Maria – but my ideas work nautically, and hopefully historically, they look okay and add some drama/realism to the model ‘cos after all falconets had to be stored away somewhere dry – hmm, have to make a container for them.
 
5/ Have in your mind’s eye your expectations of the finished model, what do you want out of it. Will it be a representation or true to the real one, amassed with detail or the basics. I settled on a story ‘what if’ – what if the Santa Maria was not wrecked but towed ashore repaired, refitted and repainted. I am going to write the story or a novelette for my future Grandson using crew names, nautical terminology, building methods of the 15th century and Haitian geography; sounds fantastimargorical but I like telling stories and together with a folder of research material, build log and the old replaced parts he will have a history of 15th century voyages of discovery, not saved on a USB stick or DVD but old fashioned paper.
 
6/ Painting, oh how I like painting, the finishing touch. Get the right paint for your model (see points 3/ and 4/ above). I use acrylics often watered down or colour mixed to get a shade I want – read up about colour wheels and mixing paint.
 
7/ Paint brushes, pay a little more for better quality. I have two sets a £1.99 set of 12 that I have CA’d into shapes for filler, cleaning, another finger and the like, the other a set of four Humbrol modellers brushes for less than a tenner.
 
8/ Small parts, there are lots of these but even more advice through MSW on how to hold, make, paint and tie knots in/on them. If you don’t have the tools or space (I have a dinner tray or kitchen unit to work on) don’t fret, as we say in Africa ‘make a plan’, buy the tiny parts, do look-a-like knots, it’s okay to use wood filler or not quite to scale parts.
 
9/ It’s your model, maybe your first, when it’s all done, complete and finished chances are friends and family will laud you pouring praise on your excellent modelling skills – fingers crossed.
Lastly join MSW (but you already have reading this) However it needs to be said that without the fellowship, articles, help, advice, etc., etc. available within the various forums I would have been all at sea and by the board.
 
One last point
 
10/ Have a look at ALL the forums MSW has to offer not just pertinent ones for your model as they contain a wealth of knowledge.
 
And enjoy your build

Hello everyone, some pictures of 'Grandad's Santa Maria before cleaning started. Sails and most of the rigging removed before they fell off.
I am no ship builder and stand in awe of you guys - detail, planking, scale it's just WOW I am amazed reading your build logs.
This is a restoration project for my Grandson due next year, keeping it in the family, although how to get it to Norway in one piece without breaking the bank (or the ship) will be a problem to solve in a year or two.
Thanks for looking and your words of encouragement in my recent Introduction entry.
 
 

So here are a few pictures in better light.

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Little details like this keeps the observer wow factor level up. Good work

That's a nice piece of work and a good addition to the character of the ship.
 
Steven

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Inboard sanding is complete. Took several days- what a tight space at the bow! Cap rail turned out pretty well. Lots of sanding because I cut it way off scale at first. Had to do surgery on one small section. Have a bit more sanding to do.
Steve

I highly encourage people to start small and work up and fully support messages like this cautionary tale however I say that as a "do what I say not as I do" message. The only beginner ship I built was Constructo's 1:150 scale Bounty and it was my seventh build. It was more of a filler ship build that I had picked up while waiting on La Couronne to arrive. I've always been one to dive into the the deep end from the start and while I will never say that all those experiences turned out good, it is just the way I am. I have a few bad models as a result of doing things this way that while I am proud of myself for pushing through them, they could have turned out many times better had I started slow. Burnout, frustration and a lack of knowledge and skills limited what I was able to do and as a result I would unknowingly skip critical steps or just settle for what it is as I had no way of knowing any different. Those models are now on the rebuild wish list.
 
Still, I do not discourage a person from tackling that larger, more difficult build from the start if they have their mind set on it. Being passionate about a project is just as important as that drive can help carry you through those tough times when it is easy to quit. Also, with great communities like this one where helpful knowledge and a friendly conversation with people who know your struggle it is much easier to attempt those harder builds early on. We are no longer isolated to build by ourselves and having to figure things out on our own. More than likely that question you have has been asked and is answered on here and probably in multiple threads. I can testify to how well this community works. My current build is my first one on here and just what I have learned from MSW has made this build a hundred times better than the last and myself a much better modeler than what I was a year ago.
 
Know yourself when choosing your model. Know your strengths and weaknesses and be honest about them. Build where you feel comfortable, don't be afraid to ask for help and above all be sure to enjoy it. If you can manage that then you can build any ship you want.   

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Musings of a MSW Newbie – started July 2016
 
Apologies for the length, original bullet points ‘what I have learnt’ has turned into a 1,000 word mini missive of sorts.
 
As a Newbie to model ships - I am restoring my +/- 80 year old Granddad’s Santa Maria (the ship that is, Grandad pasted away last century) - a few thoughts on the process I went through once I had the ship in my hands.
 
‘This is a mess, how can I fix this, how can I make this or that’. Okay very different to a new ‘out of the box’ model ship experience but the sheer magnitude of the task didn’t really hit until a few weeks into the job.
 
I am of an age where I take my time so said to myself ‘two years to complete’. I started researching modelling sites settling on MSW as the ‘Premier’ site for info, knowledge, skills, attention to detail and general all round good fellows willing to share knowledge and advice.
 
More internet research into the ship, pictures, models, plans, anything I could find printing dozens of pics. Then research into where to purchase part and bits I would be unable/didn’t want to make.
 
At last I was ready to order ‘stuff’ and what a moment when it arrived, wood and tiny parts and glue – I was ready to go for it. I had already spent hours cleaning the ship of accumulated dirt and grime, removed all the rigging and masts and other bits falling apart and was now set for restoration.
 
Three months later and new forecastle bulwarks, new cap rails, ships boat (made from a kit), barrels and buckets ready to be installed and four futtock riders made and fitted.
I try for at least an hour a night, longer over weekends if possible, progress is slow but that’s okay 21 months to go.
 
Things I have learnt on the way are:
 
1/ Super glue or CA – do not use on painted wood, use aliphatic (the first time I saw that in print I had to google it), use CA glue on painted wood and it’s brittle and will break off, a mistake I made early ‘cos CA is so quick and easy and who needs clamps anyway.
 
2/ Get some clamps, small ones for small stuff bigger ones for bigger stuff – buy a set - and leave overnight to really bond, yes be patient.
 
3/ Unless you are gifted with a workshop and all the tools be prepared to compromise on your first build. I have ‘worked around’ steam bending wood in a saucepan with wire supports; it worked, (cap rails were steam bent around medicine bottle tops and a straight drinking glass, forecastle bulwarks around a dowel mould I made). I worked around ‘clamping’ cap rails to bulwark sides using cable ties around the hull, blocks of cut and shaped wood and wedges (a knife, a file and some cable tie cut-offs) to hold the two curved and one flat section in place overnight. Build your kit up slowly as and when you need to.
 
4/ Research, research and research some more, internet, google and of course MSW. I spent hours researching how a 15th century anchor could be raised onto cap rails (designed and made a removable fish davit), and then how falconets were moved around the ship (designed and make fixed mountings set into the cap rails and fixed to the deck). Now maybe to the purest my ideas are out of kilter with the original – then again no blueprint for Santa Maria – but my ideas work nautically, and hopefully historically, they look okay and add some drama/realism to the model ‘cos after all falconets had to be stored away somewhere dry – hmm, have to make a container for them.
 
5/ Have in your mind’s eye your expectations of the finished model, what do you want out of it. Will it be a representation or true to the real one, amassed with detail or the basics. I settled on a story ‘what if’ – what if the Santa Maria was not wrecked but towed ashore repaired, refitted and repainted. I am going to write the story or a novelette for my future Grandson using crew names, nautical terminology, building methods of the 15th century and Haitian geography; sounds fantastimargorical but I like telling stories and together with a folder of research material, build log and the old replaced parts he will have a history of 15th century voyages of discovery, not saved on a USB stick or DVD but old fashioned paper.
 
6/ Painting, oh how I like painting, the finishing touch. Get the right paint for your model (see points 3/ and 4/ above). I use acrylics often watered down or colour mixed to get a shade I want – read up about colour wheels and mixing paint.
 
7/ Paint brushes, pay a little more for better quality. I have two sets a £1.99 set of 12 that I have CA’d into shapes for filler, cleaning, another finger and the like, the other a set of four Humbrol modellers brushes for less than a tenner.
 
8/ Small parts, there are lots of these but even more advice through MSW on how to hold, make, paint and tie knots in/on them. If you don’t have the tools or space (I have a dinner tray or kitchen unit to work on) don’t fret, as we say in Africa ‘make a plan’, buy the tiny parts, do look-a-like knots, it’s okay to use wood filler or not quite to scale parts.
 
9/ It’s your model, maybe your first, when it’s all done, complete and finished chances are friends and family will laud you pouring praise on your excellent modelling skills – fingers crossed.
Lastly join MSW (but you already have reading this) However it needs to be said that without the fellowship, articles, help, advice, etc., etc. available within the various forums I would have been all at sea and by the board.
 
One last point
 
10/ Have a look at ALL the forums MSW has to offer not just pertinent ones for your model as they contain a wealth of knowledge.
 
And enjoy your build

Musings of a MSW Newbie – started July 2016
 
Apologies for the length, original bullet points ‘what I have learnt’ has turned into a 1,000 word mini missive of sorts.
 
As a Newbie to model ships - I am restoring my +/- 80 year old Granddad’s Santa Maria (the ship that is, Grandad pasted away last century) - a few thoughts on the process I went through once I had the ship in my hands.
 
‘This is a mess, how can I fix this, how can I make this or that’. Okay very different to a new ‘out of the box’ model ship experience but the sheer magnitude of the task didn’t really hit until a few weeks into the job.
 
I am of an age where I take my time so said to myself ‘two years to complete’. I started researching modelling sites settling on MSW as the ‘Premier’ site for info, knowledge, skills, attention to detail and general all round good fellows willing to share knowledge and advice.
 
More internet research into the ship, pictures, models, plans, anything I could find printing dozens of pics. Then research into where to purchase part and bits I would be unable/didn’t want to make.
 
At last I was ready to order ‘stuff’ and what a moment when it arrived, wood and tiny parts and glue – I was ready to go for it. I had already spent hours cleaning the ship of accumulated dirt and grime, removed all the rigging and masts and other bits falling apart and was now set for restoration.
 
Three months later and new forecastle bulwarks, new cap rails, ships boat (made from a kit), barrels and buckets ready to be installed and four futtock riders made and fitted.
I try for at least an hour a night, longer over weekends if possible, progress is slow but that’s okay 21 months to go.
 
Things I have learnt on the way are:
 
1/ Super glue or CA – do not use on painted wood, use aliphatic (the first time I saw that in print I had to google it), use CA glue on painted wood and it’s brittle and will break off, a mistake I made early ‘cos CA is so quick and easy and who needs clamps anyway.
 
2/ Get some clamps, small ones for small stuff bigger ones for bigger stuff – buy a set - and leave overnight to really bond, yes be patient.
 
3/ Unless you are gifted with a workshop and all the tools be prepared to compromise on your first build. I have ‘worked around’ steam bending wood in a saucepan with wire supports; it worked, (cap rails were steam bent around medicine bottle tops and a straight drinking glass, forecastle bulwarks around a dowel mould I made). I worked around ‘clamping’ cap rails to bulwark sides using cable ties around the hull, blocks of cut and shaped wood and wedges (a knife, a file and some cable tie cut-offs) to hold the two curved and one flat section in place overnight. Build your kit up slowly as and when you need to.
 
4/ Research, research and research some more, internet, google and of course MSW. I spent hours researching how a 15th century anchor could be raised onto cap rails (designed and made a removable fish davit), and then how falconets were moved around the ship (designed and make fixed mountings set into the cap rails and fixed to the deck). Now maybe to the purest my ideas are out of kilter with the original – then again no blueprint for Santa Maria – but my ideas work nautically, and hopefully historically, they look okay and add some drama/realism to the model ‘cos after all falconets had to be stored away somewhere dry – hmm, have to make a container for them.
 
5/ Have in your mind’s eye your expectations of the finished model, what do you want out of it. Will it be a representation or true to the real one, amassed with detail or the basics. I settled on a story ‘what if’ – what if the Santa Maria was not wrecked but towed ashore repaired, refitted and repainted. I am going to write the story or a novelette for my future Grandson using crew names, nautical terminology, building methods of the 15th century and Haitian geography; sounds fantastimargorical but I like telling stories and together with a folder of research material, build log and the old replaced parts he will have a history of 15th century voyages of discovery, not saved on a USB stick or DVD but old fashioned paper.
 
6/ Painting, oh how I like painting, the finishing touch. Get the right paint for your model (see points 3/ and 4/ above). I use acrylics often watered down or colour mixed to get a shade I want – read up about colour wheels and mixing paint.
 
7/ Paint brushes, pay a little more for better quality. I have two sets a £1.99 set of 12 that I have CA’d into shapes for filler, cleaning, another finger and the like, the other a set of four Humbrol modellers brushes for less than a tenner.
 
8/ Small parts, there are lots of these but even more advice through MSW on how to hold, make, paint and tie knots in/on them. If you don’t have the tools or space (I have a dinner tray or kitchen unit to work on) don’t fret, as we say in Africa ‘make a plan’, buy the tiny parts, do look-a-like knots, it’s okay to use wood filler or not quite to scale parts.
 
9/ It’s your model, maybe your first, when it’s all done, complete and finished chances are friends and family will laud you pouring praise on your excellent modelling skills – fingers crossed.
Lastly join MSW (but you already have reading this) However it needs to be said that without the fellowship, articles, help, advice, etc., etc. available within the various forums I would have been all at sea and by the board.
 
One last point
 
10/ Have a look at ALL the forums MSW has to offer not just pertinent ones for your model as they contain a wealth of knowledge.
 
And enjoy your build

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hi,
This weekend a fogon for the Santa Maria.
Cardboard fogon and tray, sand and bits of wood for the fire, a pot with salt crystals for food boiling away.
 

Hello everyone, some pictures of 'Grandad's Santa Maria before cleaning started. Sails and most of the rigging removed before they fell off.
I am no ship builder and stand in awe of you guys - detail, planking, scale it's just WOW I am amazed reading your build logs.
This is a restoration project for my Grandson due next year, keeping it in the family, although how to get it to Norway in one piece without breaking the bank (or the ship) will be a problem to solve in a year or two.
Thanks for looking and your words of encouragement in my recent Introduction entry.
 
 

Thanks RussR the decks will retain the aged look but with new forecastle bulwarks and four futtock riders the hull will be having a spring clean paint job.

Hello everyone, some pictures of 'Grandad's Santa Maria before cleaning started. Sails and most of the rigging removed before they fell off.
I am no ship builder and stand in awe of you guys - detail, planking, scale it's just WOW I am amazed reading your build logs.
This is a restoration project for my Grandson due next year, keeping it in the family, although how to get it to Norway in one piece without breaking the bank (or the ship) will be a problem to solve in a year or two.
Thanks for looking and your words of encouragement in my recent Introduction entry.
 
 

Hello everyone, some pictures of 'Grandad's Santa Maria before cleaning started. Sails and most of the rigging removed before they fell off.
I am no ship builder and stand in awe of you guys - detail, planking, scale it's just WOW I am amazed reading your build logs.
This is a restoration project for my Grandson due next year, keeping it in the family, although how to get it to Norway in one piece without breaking the bank (or the ship) will be a problem to solve in a year or two.
Thanks for looking and your words of encouragement in my recent Introduction entry.